Hartlepool choir hoping to raise the roof with their voices at national contest

Vicki Newman

A group of Hartlepool youngsters are hoping they’ll sound like a choir of angels when they take part in a national contest.

The young singers, from Kate Sirs School of Music, will be putting on a show at prestigious music venue, The Sage Gateshead as they audition for Choir of the Year.

The group of 12 girls, aged 12 and under, will raise their voices on Sunday as they battle to make it to the next round of the bi-annual contest.

More than 170 choirs from around the UK are taking part.

Kate, who runs the music school based in Stockton Road, said: “This is a national competition that runs every two years and as far as I know, we’re the only people from Hartlepool who are entering this time.

“The group has been rehearsing for six months and working very hard. Everyone is really excited, because obviously getting to perform at a venue like the Sage is such a big thing.

“The kids can’t wait to sing there, and on a personal level, I can’t believe I’m going to conduct my choir there. I think I might be more excited than they are.”

Kate, 37, from Hartlepool, teaches singing, piano, flute and violin at her music school, as well as also running a ladies’ choir dubbed Mum’s the Word.

She added: “The choir will be performing three different pieces, two of which have three-part harmonies, which for a choir of this size and this age is pretty darn good.

“They’ve done choir contests in Hartlepool, Stockton and Darlington before and I just thought it was time to take it up to the next level.”

If the choir do well, they’ll advance to the category finals in Birmingham on October 16, which could take them to the grand final in Cardiff on December 3.

Kate said: “It sounds like a cliche, and obviously it would be amazing to win, but more than anything, we’re doing this for the positive experience.

“The kids have worked so hard and their parents being able to go along and see them sing at the Sage will be a brilliant reward.

“What people don’t understand about choirs is that being part of one teaches kids about working together. It’s not about being able to hear 12 different voices, but those 12 voices sounding like one voice and being in a choir really teaches the kids about being part of a team.”

The group will be performing during the morning show, which kicks off at 10am.

Tickets cost £12 with an £8 concession, or £20 with a £15 concession for both sessions. The second begins at 2.30pm.